Commutator attachment for automobiles



G. A. FARRER.

COMMUTATOR ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 9. Isla.

@witness UNITED coivriviuTAToR ATTACHMENT FOR 'AUioivi'oisrLnis.v Y

new and useful Improvements in Commutator Attachmentsfor Automobiles;and I do hereby declare thefollowing tovbe a full,-l

clear, and exact description of the invention, suoli aswill enableothers skilled in the art to'which it appertains to make and useV thesame. p

The present invention relates to new and yuseful improvements inattachments for automobiles and moreA particularly directed to theprovision of an improved commutator 'mounting for that type VofautomobileV engine structure wherein normally the com-` mutatorispositionedin the lower portion of the forward end of the crank casing,

` this arrangementv beingV found in automobile engines of the Ford orsimilar types.

Iith a conimutatorv positioned at the lower portion of the forwardA endof the crank casing,` the `sparking wires leading from thecommutatorilareliable to be engaged by the belt of the radiator fangandconsequently damaged. Also Vgrease from the engine structure-finds itswayn into 'the commutator, necessitating a frequent cleaning thereof,and impairing the eflicientioperation of the commutator.

It is therefore primarily the object of the present invention to providean arrangement for so positioning the 'commutator that the wires leadingtherefrom are not subject to engagement by any movable parts of theengine structure, and wherein access of oil to the commutator isprevented.

It is more particularly the object to provide an arrangement wherein theordinary commutator of an engine structure and the ordinary drive meanstherefor may be uti- `lized without any substantial modification of suchparts and wherein interposed means is provided for driving thecommutator by it normal drive means in a position remote therefrom.

With the above and otherobjects and advantages in view, theinvention'resides more particularly in the novel combination, formationand arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointedVout in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Speccaton'of Letters Patent. v

` Application iile'd November 9,1918. Serial 1\To."261,872.`

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of the.;

improved oommutatorV Vdevice associated with a conventionalengine'structure.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof..

"Fig 3 is va longitudinal sectional view through the commutator andshaft housing. Iig.- t is adetail sectionalf view on the linei-liofFigQ.f.'

Fig-5 is a plan View of the commutator and timer controlling mechanism.V

F ig. 6 is a detail section on the line 6 6 of Fig. l.

. Referring-now more particularly to theV accompanying drawings, 5designates they front portion of the crank casing vof an engine of theFord type, and 6 designatesythe ordinarycam shaftV which extendsthroughV Vthe housing into the usualcup-shaped rotatable clornmutatorcasing 7 carrying binding posts 8 corresponding in number to thecylinders ofthe` engines and having. contactv iifiembersforl points179,;at its inner periphery engagable by the usualspring urgedcommutator roller 10 rotatablewithinthe commutator` casing. v i i In theapplication of the present inven tion, the commutator casing 7'and 'theroller.` 10and its mountingsare removed yfrom the` camshaft6andqiixed'on'the end ofthe cam shaft and held by nut l1 is a beveledgear 12 meshing with a beveled gear 13 carried on the lower end of. ashaft 14.

:enormen A. fFARREn-or nooNvrLnn, ca'lninonivrnf `Patented oet; 26,1920,

sof

journaled in a sleeve housing 15. The

latter has its lower end merged into a gear casing 16 which is adaptedto fit against theV crank casing 5 in the manner of the removedcommutation casing andl which is secured in place by a pair of arms 17eX- tending divergently downwardly therefrom andbolted at 18, to thecrank casing. The

housing'and shaft extend upwardly and are Y.

inclined toward one side of the engine structure and at the upper end ofthe housing is formed a seating plate 19 havingan upturnedperipheraliiange 2O within which is seated the mouth ofthe commutatorvcasing 7 and the shaft 14 is extended into the commutator casing'thuspositioned and has fixed thereon the cominutator roller 10. For holdingthe commutator casing inplace, an

upright post 21 carried by a radial extension ii of the Yplate 19 hassecured thereto by the bolt 22, one end of a spring finger 23 having itsother end engaged against the outer portion of the commutator casing tohold it withinvjthe shallow cup formed 19 and its flange 20.

the plate J ournaled in the widened base of the posti 21 is a rock shaft24 having a crank arm 25 at one end to which is secured a rod26extending to the usual control means for tiln-` ing the action of thecommutator. At the other end of the rock shaft is provided an of oilthereto from the engine casing.-v The Wires 31 extending from thebinding posts 8 of the commutator casing are preferably strung along theusual top radiator rod and thus are afforded an efficient support intheirpassage from the 4hood of the automobile, and are prevented frompossible damaging contact with the fan structure or any movable parts ofthe engine. The entire device may be readily applied to an automobile'structure, and provides for a most highly efficient commutatoroperation.

What is claimed is: i 1. In a commutator, the'combination with a rotaryshaft, a seating plate surrounding the same and having an annularupstanding flange and a post, and a roller carried by said shaft;'of acasing rotatably adjustable on the plate within its flange and carrying`successive contact, a spring linger mounted on the upper .end of saidpost and bearing Vdownward upon said casing, a rock shaft journaledthrough said post and having two cranks, a rod connected with one crankand leading to a distant point, and a link having universal lconnectionsat its extremities with the othercrank and with the casing for adjustin@the position of the latter as de.- scribec. Y -V l 2. In a .commutator7the combination with a substantially upright shaft, a tubular housingsurrounding the same and having a seating plate at itsupper end, theplate provided with an annular upstand-ing flange and a radial fingercarrying a post, a roller carried Vby the'upper end of said shaft, andmeans for rotatingthe shaft from its lower end; of a casing rotatablymounted on the platewithin its flange and carrying `points with whichVsaid roller comes into successive contact, a spring finger mounted atone end on the upper end of said post and bearin downward at-its otherend upon said casing,

ties, a rod connected 'with one crank and leading to a point withinreach of the oper- Y ator, and a link having universal connecf tions atits extremities with the other' crank Y and with the' casing foradjustingthe position of the latter, as described.

In testimony whereof,I aiiX my signature7 in the presence of twowitnesses. l

' l GEORGE A. FARRER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE A. JEWETT, ERNEST E. FARRER.

